Stamford coach apologizes for halftime resignation

Donny Panapada admitted on Sunday that he made a mistake when he stepped away from the Stamford High School football sideline at halftime on Friday. The former head coach apologized for his conduct in a written statement, but he said he still believes he can lead the program again in the future.

Panapada announced his resignation to players and Athletic Director Chris Passamano during the Oct. 23 game against Warde. He remained at Warde High School for the second half but did not coach. The Black Knights lost that game 42-14. Stamford Principal Matthew Forker emailed parents last Tuesday to explain why the resignation would stay in effect.

In the email, Forker stated that Panapada demonstrated poor judgment while coaching the first half. Forker said a meeting on Saturday with Panapada, the staff, and players confirmed there was no viable path for Panapada to rescind his resignation. Forker met with Panapada on Monday, where the coach expressed remorse. Forker said Panapada's actions did not meet the standards for a head coach.

Panapada disagreed with the school's finality. In his statement, he said he believed he would have a chance to make amends the morning after the game. He claimed he was instead only given the chance to say goodbye. Panapada said he is convinced that taking responsibility allows for growth and second chances.

The Black Knights are 3-3 and sit in seventh place in the CIAC Class LL playoff standings. The current staff will coach the team for the rest of the season without naming an interim head coach. Stamford plays at home against St. Joseph at noon Saturday. St. Joseph is 5-0 and ranked second in the GametimeCT Top 10 poll.

Panapada has been Stamford's head coach since 2022. He holds a 16-31 record over five seasons. The team went 7-4 in 2023, reaching the CIAC Class LL tournament for the first time in 28 years. Injuries affected the roster in the next two years, and Stamford went 1-9 in both 2024 and 2025. Before Stamford, Panapada spent six seasons at Trinity Catholic with a 25-39 record.